Knicks sign Davis, Wizards conjure up new Young contract

The New York Knicks have signed free agent Baron Davis, the NBA team said on Monday, but it is unclear when the point guard will make his debut as he continues to recover from a herniated disk.

Terms were not announced, but according to local media, the 32-year-old Davis agreed to a one-year deal for US$2.5 million.

A two-time All-Star, Davis split last season between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 13.1 points and 6.7 assists over 58 games.

The third overall pick in the 1999 draft, Davis has posted career averages of 16.5 points and 7.3 assists.

Meanwhile in Washington, the Wizards announced they had reached a deal with last year’s leading scorer, shooting guard Nick Young.

The Wizards had been hoping to resign Young to a long-term contract, but they settled on a one-year deal for US$3.7 million, according to local media reports.

Washington’s first-round selection in the 2007 draft, Young averaged a career best 17.4 points a game last season.

The 26-year-old restricted free agent had been seeking a big raise in the neighborhood of US$9 million a season from the Wizards, according to reports.

BOBCATS SIGN BIYOMBO

AFP, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

Bismack Biyombo, a teen forward from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, signed with the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday after buying out his contract with Spain’s Fuenlabrada.

The Bobcats said Biyombo had signed a rookie contract and that they would pay half of the US$1.5 million buyout fee that Biyombo was required to pay the Spanish side so he could play in the NBA.

The 19-year-old African used the buyout clause to erase the remaining two years on his contract to join Charlotte ahead of Sunday’s start of the NBA season.

Bobcats coach Paul Silas said Biyombo could play on Thursday in a pre-season game at Atlanta.

Biyombo, selected seventh in June’s NBA Draft, sought to avoid paying the buyout fee, but a Spanish court dismissed his lawsuit last week.

HAYES FAILS PHYSICAL

REUTERS

The Sacramento Kings canceled their four-year contract with free agent Chuck Hayes on Monday after he failed a physical.

Kings president Geoff Petrie said the US$21.3 million deal had been voided because of medical reasons.

“This morning, in one of the most heartbreaking moments of my professional or personal life, Chuck Hayes was notified that he failed his physical exam with the Sacramento Kings,” Petrie said in a statement. “Subsequent to that, the contract signed on Dec. 9 has been voided. At Chuck’s request, we will have no further comment at this time.”

The Kings last week revealed that a recent heart exam on Hayes had shown an abnormality, but they did not provide any more details.